National Green Check Certified GPS Training
Presentation and Learning Aid
Concept and presentation created by Bill Steer. Revised and updated by Daniel Mansfield, January 14, 2008
Canadian Ecology Centre
Reducing Your Ecological
Imprint
• Green Technology
– “5 E’s + 1 E” program planning
• Learning to use the technology
– GPS and software
• Applications
• Transportation
– movement patterns
– less fuel
• Marking
– conserving sensitive areas
• Scale: schoolyard to community and beyond
• Others…
• Resource CD – English and French Canadian Ecology Centre
www.canadianecology.ca
• [email protected]
• Green Check GPS Certification
www.greencheckgps.ca
A Balanced Equation…
Becoming
A Competent
Navigator
MAP
COMPASS
GPS
3 Important Navigation
Questions
Where are you now?
Current Location
Where are you going?
Destination
How am I going to specifically identify these
locations?
Means of Measurement
Latitude & Longitude
vs.
Universal Transverse Mercator
Latitude and Longitude system
Example: N049o17.344 W081o45.344
Latitude is horizontal lines, Longitude is vertical lines
Uses degrees, minutes, and decimal minutes (or seconds)
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
Example: 17 T E 663450 N 5129525
Eastings is vertical lines, Northings is horizontal lines
Uses the metric system. Based on metres.
Both of these coordinate systems can be displayed on your Waypoint, Trip Computer,
and Satellite pages on your GPS.
UTM System Components
We choose to use the UTM system for
mapping and navigating because its
coordinates are based on the metric system.
Here’s a sample coordinate:
UTM
ZONE
Easting
UTM
17T
Northing
The ‘0’ is shown
on Garmin units
as a significant
place holder
E 0663450
N 5129525
UTM ZONES
The Highlighted Zone is 17T
Eastings and Northings
Northing values (horizontal lines) reflect actual distance (in metres) North of the Equator.
Thus, a northing value of 5129000 mN would mean that any point along this northing will be 5 129 000 m north
of the Equator, or 5129 km.
Since Canada’s southernmost point is over 4 620 000 m north of the equator, all Northing figures will
be above this number.
Easting values (vertical lines) relate to a central meridian (line) inside each zone. This central meridian
Is labelled 500 000 mE.
You always know if you are east or west of this central meridian by the value of the easting.
Thus, an easting value of 655000 mE would mean that any point along this easting would be 155 000 m (155 km)
east of the central meridian. A value of 455000 mE would be 45 000 m (45 km) west of the central meridian.
The northing and easting coordinates will be displayed in several places on your GPS unit when using UTM.
Latitude and Longitude
Latitude is horizontal lines that tell the location,
in degrees (°), of a position north (N) or south (S)
of the Equator
The Equator is designated as 0°:
Points north (N) of the equator range from 0° to
90°N (at the North Pole)
Points south (S) of the equator range from 0° to
90°S (at the South Pole)
Longitude is vertical lines that tell the location,
in degrees (°), of a position east (E) or west (W)
of the Prime Meridian (in Greenwich, England)
The Prime Meridian is designated as 0°:
Points east (E) of the Prime Meridian range from 0° to
180°E (at the International Date Line)
Points west (W) of the Prime Meridian range from 0° to
180°W (at the International Date Line)
Latitude and Longitude
Latitude and Longitude
The latitude and longitude system is still widely used today,
especially by pilots and boaters. Most nautical charts only
contain a latitude/longitude coordinate system
Here’s a sample coordinate:
Degrees
North
Latitude
Longitude
Degrees West (may have 0
as a place holder on your
GPS unit)
Decimal Minutes North
N 49°17.344’
W 081°45.344’
Decimal Minutes West
Compass Parts
Finding North
Hold the compass flat, on the palm of your
hand, in front of your chest and keep it steady.
Find the Directional Arrow (FRED)
Turn the compass dial so the N is
lined up with the directional arrow
Find the Orienting Arrow (SHED)
Find the Magnetic Needle (RED)
Now turn your body, (never turn the
compass), and let the magnetic needle
(red part of the needle) align itself within
the orienting arrow.
“Line up FRED and put RED in the SHED”
How does GPS Work?
A GPS ‘Receiver’
GPS does not send information - It will not
tell other people where you are.
Your GPS unit will show your location with
a reception from 3 or more satellites.
Reception can be affected by thick forest,
buildings or the roof of your car.
Two Dimensional Navigation (2DNAV) is
sufficient for navigating.
Three Dimensional Navigation (3DNAV)
works the same as 2DNAV but includes
elevation as an extra dimension.
Satellite Pages
Map Pages
Compass Pages
LET’S GO!